Brace for stage scenery



Oct. 20, 1964 F. G. GlGLlOLI 3,153,527

BRACE FOR STAGE SCENERY Filed Feb. 1, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Z IIII II) I FIG. 6. BY a ATTOQN EY.

Oct. 20, 1964 F. G. GlGLlOLl 3,153,527

BRACE FOR STAGE SCENERY Filed Feb. 1, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E Fm. T.

INVENTOR. FREDERICK G. GlGLlOLI BY aw ATTO RN EY.

United States Patent 3,153,527 BRAQE FOR STAGE-E SCENERY Frederick G. Giglioli, 712 S. Wilton Place, Los Angeles, Caliii, assignor of one-half to Patricia M. Keiter, Los Angeles, Caiit.

Filed Feb, 1., 1963, her. No. 255,564 Claims. (Cl. 248-46il3 This invention relates to a brace for supporting scenery panels on a theater stage, the invention further relating to a novel latch mechanism for releasably interconnecting two members and to a novel foot or base assembly for releasably securing a structure, eg. pole, to a support surface.

When the invention is embodied in a brace for supporting a wall or a panel in upright position, the brace includes a pole adapted by a latch mechanism of this invention at its upper end to be connected to the back of the wall or the panel and adapted by a base assembly of this invention at its lower end to releasably anchor the brace to a floor or other support surface. In a theater it is important that the panels which display the background scenery on the stage be capable of quick and efficient installation during the intervals between the acts of a play so that the scenery for a completed act may be removed and the scenery for the next act be set up before the curtain is raised. It is, of course, important, too, that the supports for the scenery panels not only be suited for quick and easy installation and removal, but also that they be reliable in their assigned function.

It is an object of this invention to provide a brace of the above-mentioned character which is especially Well suited for quick and convenient installation thereof to support scenery panels and is furthermore so constructed that it can be readily released and removed for replacement of the scenery panels.

A general object is to provide a novel scenery brace which is simple and rugged in construction, is easy to operate, is strong and durable, and is economical to manufacture.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel latch mechanism for releasably interconnecting two members and which is especially well suited as theater stage equipment for connecting the upper end of a brace to the back of a scenery panel.

Still another object is to provide a foot-operated base assembly which is simple and easy to operate and is especially well suited for use in releasably securing the lower end of a brace structure to a floor.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following part of this specification wherein the details of construction and mode of operation of a preferred embodiment are described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the back of interconnected scenery panels supported in upright position by a stage brace of this invention;

P16. 2 is an enlarged View partly in central vertical section of the upper end portion of the brace including the latch mechanism thereof;

FIG. 3 is a cross-section through the latch mechanism taken upon a plane indicated by line 3-3 on FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are elevational views of the latch mechanism showing the same in unlocked and locked positions, respectively;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the brace and a part sectional view through a scenery panel taken upon a plane indicated by line 6 on FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the scenery panels supported by the brace;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of the base assembly for the brace;

Patented Oct. 20, 1964 FIG. 9 is a cross-section through the base assembly taken upon a plane indicated by line 99 on FIG. 8 and showing a moved position for a prying lever of the base in broken lines superimposed upon the full line representation thereof; and

FIGS. 10 and 11 are sectional views through a camoperated grip of the base assembly taken upon a plane indicated on FIG. 8 by line ltl1ll, with the views showing the grip in tightened and released positions, respectively.

Referring to the drawing in greater detail and with the use of reference numerals, FIG. 1 shows two scenery panels 15 and 16, laced together along their frame stiles l7 and 18, respectively, to stand upright upon a stage floor 19 and supported by a scenery brace of this invention which is designated generally by reference numeral 20. The manner in which the scenery panels 15 and 16 are laced together is conventional, i.e. with a cord 22 alternating between cleats 23 which are suitably secured on the stiles 1'7 and 18 of the panels.

tage brace 20 comprises a long slender pole 25, a latch mechanism 26 on the upper end of the pole, and a base assembly 27 for anchoring the lower end of the pole to the floor 19. A catch 28, secured with screws 29 to the panel stile 17, has a projection or pin 39 which is releas ably engaged by the latch 26 as will be explained more fully hereinafter. The pole comprises an upper section 31 and a lower tubular section 32 telescopically receiving the upper section rotatably therein. A clamp 33 serves to secure the sections together against relative axial movement. In the illustrated embodiment the clamp 33comprises two lugs 3d integral with the outside of the upper end of the lower pole section 32 on opposite sides of an open slit 36 in the pole section. A thumbscrew 37, slidable through one of the lugs and threadedly engageable with the other of the lugs, constricts the split end of the tubular section 32 around the upper section 31 to secure the sections together at a selected position for adjustment of the pole to a desired length. When the thumbscrew 37 is turned in a direction out from the lugs to release the clamp 33, the upper pole section 31 is rotatable and slidable axially in the lower pole section.

The latch 26, per se, is a feature of this invention and comprises a body 40 and a hook 41. The latch body 40 is adapted to be secured to a member to be latched, e.g. the upper end of the pole 25', for attachment to another member, e.g. the scenery panel 17. In the illustrated embodiment the means for securing the latch body upon the upper end of the pole 25 comprises a skirt 4?. having a slit 53 and two lugs 44 which receive a thumbscrew 46 for operation in a manner similar to that described above for the clamp 33. The latch body 45) has an axially extending bore 48 through which the shank portion 49 of the hookel extends with the hook being rotatable in the body 4%.

The latch mechanism is operable between an open position shown in FIG. 4 and a closed or locking position shown in FIG. 5. When the latch is in its open position, the gap or space 51 between the distal end 52 of the hook and that part of the latch body 4%) nearest to end 52 is wider than when the latch is in its locking position. The upper end surface of the latch body is bevelled at 53 from the plane of the remaining portion 54 whereby the hook gap is Wider when the distal end 52 is nearest the bevelled portion 53, as shown in FIG. 4, than when it is nearest the point 55 on the periphery of the surface portion 54 diametrically opposite the bevelled portion 53, as shown in FIG. 5. In the latch-open position, the gap 51 is wide enough to accommodate the catch pin 30. When next the latch body is rotated from the FIG. 4 position thereof to the FIG. 5 position, the projecting corner of the body at point 55 narrows the '3 gap to a width less than he diameter of the catch pin thereby preventing inadvertent disconnection of the hook from the catch pin. The catch pin has an enlarged head 57 at its distal end so as to prevent sliding of the hook off from the pin.

Stop means are provided on the hook to prevent removal of the hook out from the body bore 48. In the illustrated embodiment, such stop means comprises a disk of larger diameter than the shank of the hook, secured to the hook shank with a screw 6%, and a coil spring 61 bearing at one end thereof against the latch body and at its other end against the disk 55. The spring is of suflicient size and strength to limit or prevent outward movement of the hook short of widening the hook gap to the diameter of catch pin 3%. Such spring-leading of the latch provides a desirable slight degree of resiliency.

Referring to FIGS. 8-11, the foot assembly 27 comprises a base plate 64, a horizontally extending shaft 65, a prying lever 66 fulcrurned on the shaft, and a grip 67 for pivotally mounting the brace pole 25 to the shaft.

The base plate 64 of the illustrated embodiment is channel shaped in cross-section having two side walls 69 through which the shaft 65 extends and in which the shaft is non-rotatably secured. The prying lever 65 is likewise of channel shaped cross-section, it having two sides 71, apertured at and integral with the ends respectively of a sleeve 73 through which the shaft extends whereby the lever is fulcrumed on the shaft. The prying lever 65 is one of the first class type having a weight lever arm portion 75 extending from one side of the fulcrum sleeve 73 and a power lever arm portion 76 extending from the opposite side of the fulcrum. The weight lever arm 75 has two holes 77 in axial alignment with two holes 78 in the base plate 64 for receiving nails St) to be driven into the stage floor 19. Preferably the nails 8t? are of the double-headed variety for convenience in handling. Upon driving the nails into the floor to secure the base assembly 27 to the floor, the prying lever 66 becomes biased to a position in which the weight lever arm '75 contacts the upper surface of the base plate 64 and the power lever arm or foot pedal portion 76 is raised above the base plate to the position shown in FIG. 8 and in the full line representation of FIG. 9. To remove the stage brace, a stage hand steps upon the power lever arm 7% thereby swinging the lever to the broken line position thereof shown at 82 in FIG. 9. This action pries the nails from the floor and releases the base from the floor.

The grip 67 of the illustrated embodiment is of a clevis type compnising a sleeve 84 which is rotatable around an end section of the shaft 65 and is split longitudinally thereof at 85, and has two lugs or flanges 85 and 87 extending outwardly from the split sleeve on opposite sides of the split 85. An eyebolt 89 extends loosely through an opening in the flange 86 and is anchored as by being screwthreaded at 90 in the other flange 87. A cam 92 is pivotally mounted with a pin 93 in the head of the eyebolt 89 and the cam has a handle 94 by which the cam is operated. The working surface of the cam slides against the outside surface of the boltfree flange 86 such that when the cam is rotated to the position thereof shown in FIG. 10, it draws the bolt-free flange 86 and the bolt-anchored flange 87 toward each other thereby constricting the split sleeve 84 tightly around the shaft 65 to secure the brace pole to a selected angle of elevation with respect to the stage floor, the pole being welded at 96 or otherwise suitably secured at its lower end to the sleeve. When the cam is rotated to its released position, shown in FIG. 11, the resiliency of the sleeve 84 causes the flanges 86 and 89 to spread apart, thereby releasing the sleeve with respect to the shaft and permitting pivotal movement of the brace pole on the shaft. Preferably the shaft extends at each end thereof beyond the sides of the base 4 plate 64 so that the grip 67 may be mounted at either end of the shaft.

In recapitulation, a procedure for installing the seenery brace 20 is hereinafter described. The foot assembly 27 is secured to the stage floor with the nails St) at a spot spaced behind the line alon which the scenery panels are to rest. The cam 92 is moved to its release position permitting swinging of the brace pole 25 on the shaft 65 for engagement of the hook of the latch over the pin of the catch 28. The clamp 33 of the pole is loosened permitting adjustment of'the telescoping sections thereof to a length for reaching the catch 28. If not already turned to that direction, the upper pole section 31 is rotated to position the bevelled surface 53 at the hook opening, and the hook is engaged with the catch pin St. The pole section 31 is then rotated 180 to the latch-lock position of MG. 5 whereupon the pole clamp 33 is tightened to secure the pole sections against relative rotation with respect to each other. Thereafter increased strength for the brace is had through operating the cam 2 to secure the brace pole non-rotatably on the shaft 65.

To remove the brace, any order of operations may be followed including extracting the nails by stepping upon prying lever as, releasing the cam 92 for pivotal movement of the brace pole on the base shaft 65, and unlocking the latch 26 for release from the catch 28.

While the instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is therefore not to be limited to the details disclosed herein, but is to be accorded the full scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination of a catch and a latch for releasably interconnecting two members, the catch having a projecting pin and means for securing the catch to one member, the latch comprising a body having means for connecting the latch to the other said member and a hook having a shank portion extending into the body through an end surface of the body and having a loop portion terminating in a distal end of the hook, the hook being relatively rotatable with respect to the body on the longitudinal axis of the shank portion, means on the hook engageable with the body for limiting axial movement of the hook with respect to the body, said distal end being spaced from said end surface of the body to define a hook gap, said end surface being bevelled at one side thereof away from the hook loop at an angle such that when the latch is in open position with said distal end proximate said bevelled side said gap is wide enough to receive said catch pin, the other side of said body end surface extending toward said loop in a direction axially of said shank beyond said bevelled side such that when the latch is in closed position with said distal end proximate said other side said gap is narrower than said catch pin thereby to hold the catch pin between the hook and said body end surface.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said limiting means comprises an enlargement on the hook shank and a spring extending to and between said enlargement and the hook body.

3. A base assembly for releasably anchoring an article to a support surface and comprising a lever having a fulcrum and having a weight arm and a power arm on opposite sides of the fulcrum, the fulcrum being adapted to bear against said support surface, means for connecting said article to said fulcrum, and means for releasably fastening the weight arm to said support surface whereby said fastening means may be released by pressing upon said power arm toward said support surface.

4. A base assembly for releasably anchoring a pole to a support surface, said assembly comprising a base plate adapted to rest on said support surface, a shaft held by said base plate and adapted to be horizontal to said sup port surface, a grip for pivotally mounting the pole at one end of the pole on said shaft, a lever over the base plate and fulcrumed between the ends of the lever on said shaft thereby defining a weight arm and a footoperable power arm on opposite sides of said fulcrum, the Weight arm having a nail hole through Which a nail may be driven into said support surface to tilt said lever in a direction of the weight arm toward said base plate, and the lever being tiltable in an opposite direction by an operator stepping upon said power arm to pry said nail from said support surface.

5. A brace for supporting a scenery panel upright on a stage floor, comprising a pole of two telescoping upper and lower sections, a catch pin adapted to be secured to the back of said panel, a latch for releasable engagement with said catch pin, and a base assembly for releasably anchoring the pole to said stage floor; the upper pole section being rotatable on its longitudinal axis in the lower pole section, a clamp on the pole for releasably securing the pole sections together against relative rotation; the latch comprising a body secured to the upper end of the upper pole section, a hook having a shank portion extending into the body through an end surface of the body and having a loop terminating in a distal end of the hook, the hook being relatively rotatable with respect to the body on the longitudinal axis of the shank portion,

means on the hook engageable with the body for limiting axial movement of the hook with respect to the body, said distal end being spaced from said end surface of the body to define a hook gap, said end surface being beveled at one side thereof away from the hook loop at an angle such that when the latch is in open position with said distal end proximate said bevelled side, said gap is wide enoughto receive said catch pin, the opposite side of said body end surface extending toward said loop in a direction axially of said shank beyond said bevelled side such that when the latch is in closed position with said distal end proximate said opposite side said gap is narrower than said catch pin thereby to hold the catch pin between the hook and said body end surface; and the base assembly comprising a base plate adapted to rest on said floor, a shaft held by said base plate horizontal to said floor, a grip pivotally mounting the pole at the lower end of said lower pole section to the shaft, a lever over the base plate and fulcrumed between the ends of the lever on said shaft thereby defining a weight arm and a foot-operable power arm on opposite sides of said fulcrum, the weight arm having a nail hole through which a nail may be driven into said floor to tilt said lever in a direction of the Weight arm toward said base plate, and the lever being tiltable in an opposite direction by an operator stepping upon said power arm to pry said nail from the floor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 434,176 Crafts Aug. 12, 1890 675,545 Hatch June 4, 1901 1,332,992 Moore et al. Mar. 9, 1920 1,445,239 Reddig Feb. 13, 1923 1,987,943 Munson Ian. 15, 1935 2,248,068 Devore et al. July 8, 1941 2,640,734 Meng June 2, 1953 2,711,636 Howell June 28, 1955 2,766,960 Weber Oct. 16, 1956 3,006,592 Davis Oct. 31, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 730,479 Great Britain May 25, 1955 

1. THE COMBINATION OF A CATCH AND A LATCH FOR RELEASABLY INTERCONNECTING TWO MEMBERS, THE CATCH HAVING A PROJECTING PIN AND MEANS FOR SECURING THE CATCH TO ONE MEMBER, THE LATCH COMPRISING A BODY HAVING MEANS FOR CONNECTING THE LATCH TO THE OTHER SAID MEMBER AND A HOOK HAVING A SHANK PORTION EXTENDING INTO THE BODY THROUGH AN END SURFACE OF THE BODY AND HAVING A LOOP PORTION TERMINATING IN A DISTAL END OF THE HOOK, THE HOOK BEING RELATIVELY ROTATABLE WITH RESPECT TO THE BODY ON THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE SHANK PORTION, MEANS ON THE HOOK ENGAGEABLE WITH THE BODY FOR LIMITING AXIAL MOVEMENT OF THE HOOK WITH RESPECT TO THE BODY, SAID DISTAL END BEING SPACED FROM SAID END SURFACE OF THE BODY TO DEFINE A HOOK GAP, SAID END SURFACE BEING BEVELLED AT ONE SIDE THEREOF AWAY FROM THE HOOK LOOP AT AN ANGLE SUCH THAT WHEN THE LATCH IS IN OPEN POSITION WITH SAID DISTAL END PROXIMATE SAID BEVELLED SAID GAP IS WIDE ENOUGH TO RECEIVE SAID CATCH PIN, THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID BODY END SURFACE EX- 